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Alert

Radio Free Asia correspondent seriously injured in suspicious road accident

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has called for a thorough and impartial investigation into a traffic accident in which Sok Serei, one of the Cambodia correspondents of Radio Free Asia's Khmer-language service, was knocked off his motorcycle and seriously injured.

"As there are witnesses who say a vehicle deliberately struck Sok Serei's motorcycle, it would seem the authorities should urgently explore all leads and try to identify the vehicle involved as quickly as possible," the press freedom organisation said. "If nothing is done, the entire journalistic community in Cambodia could feel threatened."

At least four Cambodian journalists have received death threats this year because of their reporting on corruption.

Sok Serei was hit by a 4WD vehicle in the centre of Phnom Penh on the evening of 13 December 2006. Some witnesses say he was struck from behind. Others say the driver opened the door of his vehicle and knocked Sok Serei off his motorcycle. The journalist hit his head hard against the ground in the fall, which left him in a coma for one night. He continues to receive hospital treatment.

Sok Serei is known for his investigative reports on corruption by government officials, broadcast by Radio Free Asia.

Radio Free Asia's correspondent in northeastern Cambodia, Sok Rattha (better known by the pseudonym of Rattha Visal), was meanwhile threatened by the governor of Rattanakiri province at the end of last month. "He told me he wanted to verify reports before they were broadcast," the journalist said (see IFEX alert of 1 December 2006).